I had spent the entire morning trying to convince myself that everything was fine. I laughed too loudly at Ethan’s jokes during breakfast, hugged him a little tighter, and forced my smile to be brighter than it truly felt. After a few hours of family chatter and outdoor activities, I excused myself. I needed a moment to clear my head. My mother had sent me to fetch some extra bottled drinks and a few snacks from the storage room, a simple errand meant to distract me. I grabbed my phone and headed toward the small utility room down the hallway. As I reached the door to the storage room, I hesitated briefly. The cool air that seeped through the door promised a quiet reprieve from the emotional turmoil that had been building all day. I opened the door slowly, stepping inside to find a cramped
